Letters

I love human interest stories, but they didn't need to take up
most of the Olympic television coverage.
--ROSEMARY KNIGHT, Barrington, R.I.

Olympic Moments

First you report that the 2000 Olympics are getting the lowest
ratings since 1968 (SCORECARD, Oct. 2). Then you print over 50
pages on the Games? I'm no magazine editor, but here's a tip: If
people aren't watching something, they probably don't want to
read about it.
BRAD ROSENTHAL, Plainview, N.Y.

Maybe people were turned off by NBC's coverage because it wasn't
interesting. There was too much fluff. Why did we see endless
preliminary heats in swimming and track?
MARK HAGEN, Natick, Mass.

I'm tired of the whining about NBC's Olympics ratings. So what if
the Internet-addicted score hounds chose not to watch? The ones
who really matter, our children, did. Every night kids were being
inspired by world-class athletes. I don't think NBC should try to
make its coverage slicker in order to capture viewers who aren't
going to take up a new sport at age 45.
JENNI LORSUNG
Apple Valley, Minn.

Role Models?

When I open my SI, I expect to read about sports, not the trials
and tribulations of lesbian lovers (In Love and War, Oct. 2).
That kind of story belongs in the tabloids. Gary Smith wrote that
the editor of Dagbladet refused to print a story about these
women, and it's dismaying that you did not exercise similar good
judgment.
TOM MCELROY, Baltimore

Simply because two women who are committing a sin and showing a
lack of morals happen to be playing against each other does not
mean that you should put it in your magazine.
ATHAN KOMPOS, Williamsville, N.Y.

I'm sure you've gotten any number of letters referring to the
"unnatural" or "perverted" team handball players. I wanted to
write to say, Thank you. Thank you for running a story about two
world-class female athletes who are also in love. My husband and
I enjoyed the article and appreciated the courage it took to run
it. Maybe this article will make it easier for other gay and
lesbian athletes. I hope so.
EVELYN KRACHE MORRIS, Overland Park, Kans.

Memories of Glory

I hope Steve Rushin isn't kicking himself for not adding one last
name to the list of Nigerian Olympians whose names he said will
be "about all we'll retain" after the torch goes dark (Blessings
in Disguise, Oct. 2). After Charity, Patience, Mercy, Gentle,
Victor and Blessing should have come the silver medalist in the
women's 100-meter hurdles who persevered despite the death three
weeks earlier of her fiance and teammate, Hyginus Anayo Anugo.
Surname: Alozie. First name: Glory.
ANDY SIERING, St. Louis

Living in a Glass House

In "Sport? Not a Sport?" golfer Steve Pate disses synchronized
swimming (SCORECARD, Oct. 2). I find it hilarious that a golfer
would ever make disparaging comments about real athletes. Let's
see...Pate swings a stick 72 times whilst going for a long walk
and doesn't carry his own bag. I'd like to see him hold his
breath underwater for two minutes and do anything half as
athletic, skillful and synchronized as the athletes in the sport
he knocks.
JOHN WRIGHT, Waynesboro, Va.

What's the Point?

After reading Ivan Maisel's article on the "dirty" play of the
Clemson football team, I'm still searching for the point (INSIDE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL, Oct. 2). First, football is a rough sport.
Second, both sides agree that the hit on Wake Forest's
quarterback was clean. Third, as coach Tommy Bowden said to me
regarding the article on his weekly call-in show, "We have had
over 700 snaps and I believe had one or two personal fouls, so
statistics don't back that up." Three pages later in the same
issue, you praise a Minnesota defensive end for his hard-hitting
play on quarterbacks and even on his own teammates. Make up your
mind!
TOM ALEXANDER, Taylors, S.C.

Lightning Bolts

The photo with your Oct. 2 CATCHING UP WITH on Lance Alworth
reminded me that the Chargers had the best uniforms in the AFL.
(I would vote for the Packers' uniforms in the premerger NFL.)
Why did they change them?
JACK MANS, Brick, N.J.

COLOR PHOTO: BOB MARTIN

It's All about the Sports

Want to know why NBC's Olympic viewership was down? Look at your
magazine. The pictures in SI showed about a dozen sports that NBC
didn't show. Your pictures were more exciting, too. I would have
loved to have seen field hockey, team handball, whitewater
canoeing, wrestling or other sports in prime time.
PAUL BILSKY, Manchester Center, Vt.